please empty your brain below
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As a long standing reading of this blog and a huge Christie fan, I was delighted to see this crossover this morning.
The longevity of the play has in itself become something of a self-perpetuating feature that allows it continues to thrive. The long standing producer of the play from 1952 until the 1990s, Peter Saunders, was also something of a PR genius in keeping it alive during the 20th century.
Amongst Christie scholars and fans then The Mousetrap isn't generally regarded as the best of her plays - especially compared to Witness For The Prosecution (currently on at County Hall).
Paul | 08.03.25 - 8:00 a.m. | #
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Still a few seats left for the matinee on 22nd, despite the markup on prices (£72.50 or £125 instead of the usual £60/£99)
timbo | 08.03.25 - 8:20 a.m. | #
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Believe it or not, I saw that play on my first visit to London, in the summer of 1969. I don't remember huw much it cost, but theatre tickets in London were fairly cheap at that time.
leuconoe | 08.03.25 - 8:38 a.m. | #
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See how they run - a nice closing reference to another vintage play that's a classic of British farce and still enjoys local and amateur revivals. God save he Bishop of Lax!
Waterhouse | 08.03.25 - 8:46 a.m. | #
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"as an under-60 patron I felt somewhat in the minority" Won't be able to say that tomorrow!
popartist | 08.03.25 - 8:49 a.m. | #
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Just mentioning that the Mousetrap has been performed elsewhere. I saw it in Edinburgh, at the King's Theatre, a couple of years ago.
Agent X | 08.03.25 - 8:57 a.m. | #
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I have seen the first act of The Mousetrap. On television. In the 50s the BBC used to show the first act of West End shows live, presumably as a promotion. The only ones I can remember are The Mousetrap and, more vaguely, a Peter Sellars vehicle.
Bryn Davies | 08.03.25 - 9:08 a.m. | #
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It's worth seeing the 2022 feature film called 'See How They Run' srarring Adrien Brody amongst others. Part of the plot revolves around making a film version of 'The Mousetrap'. Quite amusing in parts...
Jeremy | 08.03.25 - 9:12 a.m. | #
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Saw it around two decades ago, when my parents were in town. They lived in London in the sixties and failed to see it then, so we had to tick the box.
Can’t for the life of me remember who did it now, so may require another visit!
Southern Heights (Light Railway) | 08.03.25 - 9:27 a.m. | #
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Out of curiosity, what's the situation regarding public domain, does this take presidency over the wishes of the author?
Still Anon | 08.03.25 - 10:28 a.m. | #
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The play will enter the public domain in 2046 (70 years after Agatha Christie died) unless the laws are changed in the meantime. There is no "presidency" involved; and once it enters the public domain that status will take precedence over the author's wishes.
Anonymous | 08.03.25 - 12:05 p.m. | #
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Bryn: a quick search in BBC Genome shows that it was 15 minutes of the 1998th performance, which took it over the line as the longest-running straight play (ie not a musical) in British theatre history.
The Radio Times also mentions that the broadcast was introduced by Richard Attenborough, who played DS Trotter for 700 performances.
martin | 08.03.25 - 1:01 p.m. | #
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I suspect that I might be the only reader who was working at the St. Martin's when The Mousetrap moved in.
I recall the huge amount of dust that was relocated together with the scenery and a very busy weekend. The St.Martin's had up until then been changing shows fairly regularly so backstage staff had differing feelings about a potential long run. The older members looked apon it as a wind-down to retirement whereas us youngsters looked for pastures new.
I look back very fondly at my time there.
HC | 08.03.25 - 2:01 p.m. | #
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I might be one of your earlier viewers of the show. My parents took me to see it in 1959.
Mary | 08.03.25 - 2:55 p.m. | #
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Bryn’s recollection might not be too wide of the mark: I also remember the BBC showing live relays of the first act of West End shows, though mine is of Brian Rix farces from the Whitehall, and something else with — I think — a young Albert Finney. So possibly the Christie as well?
dg writes: martin has confirmed this above.
Labourer | 08.03.25 - 4:15 p.m. | #
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The re-run of "Beyond Our Ken" made reference to the Mousetrap as the longest running show in town (and then did a musical spoof of it)
That episode of Beyond Our Ken was first broadcast in 1959!
timbo | 08.03.25 - 5:21 p.m. | #
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"Witness for the Prosecution" is also excellent, and setting it in the glorious County Hall was a masterstroke.
dncn | 08.03.25 - 5:50 p.m. | #
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My wife and I went to see The Mousetrap at an afternoon matinee performance and found out when we left the theatre that Queen Elizabeth II had just died. The evening performamce was subsequently cancelled but we had had our money's worth.
Tones | 08.03.25 - 6:10 p.m. | #
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One day I will get round to seeing it - though I suspect the matinee on the 22nd March booked out long ago!!
Cornish Cockney | 08.03.25 - 6:26 p.m. | #
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I went to see a performance of The Mousetrap down in Portsmouth a few years back. Yes, I do remember whodunnit. No, I will not be giving anything away.
X-Plaistow | 09.03.25 - 12:11 a.m. | #
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Thanks for the public domain info, it'll be interesting if the play survives after 2046; but do they start trademarking stuff instead like they've done with aspects of Sherlock Holmes.
Still Anon | 09.03.25 - 6:38 a.m. | #
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My mousetrap trivia gem is that at least one role has been played by two generations of the same family...
I think there are also cast members who have played both younger and senior roles.
suncloud | 09.03.25 - 9:22 a.m. | #
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I did exactly the same as you a couple of weeks, thanks to the special offer. Very enjoyable.
Mikey C | 09.03.25 - 8:31 p.m. | #
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Our second visit (in 52 years) last year. Was really disappointed in the casting - someone who it turns out was supposed to be a really experienced teacher was played by a 30something who couldn't possibly have been in that role. Never mind - entertain nevertheless.
BillyG | 10.03.25 - 9:48 a.m. | #
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London Theatre Week has been extended (it's been over three weeks now) and £20 tickets are still available for weekday performances of The Mousetrap.
diamond geezer | Homepage | 10.03.25 - 11:16 a.m. | #
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According to here the 30,000th performance will be on 19th March. Does that mean there were some cancellations since that article was published in February?
Louise | 11.03.25 - 4:21 p.m. | #
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No it means I counted wrong, sorry.
Although I can't get the 30000th performance to be on the 19th even if I count 'correctly', so I'm wondering if there's a hidden matinee the day before.
diamond geezer | Homepage | 11.03.25 - 4:30 p.m. | #
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Also from the BBC Archives: a 2002 World Service documentary about the play.
martin | 12.03.25 - 10:14 a.m. | #
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